In years past it was always a tradition for local companies to loan some of the young executives in their companies to the annual United Way campaign. This loan meant that the Loaned Executive was still on his or her company payroll but reported to work at the United Way during the campaign months. This program was of mutual benefit to the company, the employee, the United Way and the community.
 
It gave the company an opportunity to support the local United Way campaign, which includes positive PR; while giving some of their newer executives public speaking experience and community involvement. For the employee; they met many of the local business leaders and gained an intimate understanding of the charitable work being done in the community. For the United Way and the community it is obvious; they got help raising money for the local health and human service agencies that make up the true fabric of any community.
 
With a ten plus year trend of corporate merging and downsizing; this program has had to evolve. We now call it our Account Manager program. Our Account Managers are very special people. Rather than this being a welcome break from the routine of their regular job; these are people, who for whatever reason, are in a position to take a modest paying job on a temporary basis to help us ensure the funds are there in our community when their friends, neighbors and relatives need it.
 
Account Managers still receive great training and public speaking experience as well as community involvement.  They are also given a chance to network in the community as most are looking for full time employment.
 
This year we have hired eight great people as our Account Managers. Their training started on August 31st and they participated in a four-day training. Account Managers are all now working in their assigned regions.  Our first report back from Regional Directors is that everyone is feeling like they are delivering a bigger, better campaign than last year.
 
The 2009-10 Campaign Cabinet has been seated, is well underway and working towards reaching their goals this year. There are strategies in place and under the direction of the Co-Chairs; Dr. Stan Scheer and Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, they coined the 2009-10 Campaign Theme: Meeting the Challenge.
 
In the next month the Campaign Cabinet will establish their financial goal for the year. From all indications the goal will be a growth goal. Everyone knows we have to do better this year and we are all convinced we can.